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Sept. 24, 1946 S. L. LONG TOP Filed Jan. 17 1945 ll IIJIIIII z a 7 V Patented Sept. 24, 1946 UNITED "STATES PATENT OFFICE TOP Sidney L.Lng, Minneapolis, Application January 17, 1945, Serial No. 573,203

(Cl. Hi- 71) 1 Claim.

My present invention relates toimprovements in spinning tops of the type in which spinning action is imparted thereto by pulling a cord wound thereon.

An object of this invention is to provide a top in which friction is reduced to .a minimum, while spinning movement is being imparted to the top or while the top is lifted from the support, on which it is spinning, and held while it continues to spin.

Another object of the invention is to provide a top that Will spin on a support when turned either side up.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel handle for a top on which the top rotates while spinning movement is being imparted thereto or by which handle the top may be picked up while spinning and moved from one support to another or turned end for end and replaced on a support while the top continues to spm.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent 7 from the following description.

To the above end, generally stated, the inven tion consists of the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and defined in the claim.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates the invention, like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the improved top;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same;

Fig, 3 is a view principally in central vertical section;

Fig, 4 is a, view of the improved topas it spins When turned upside down; and

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the improved top turned into the position in which it is held while winding a cord thereon and in pulling the wound cord therefrom.

The body 6 of the improved top is a large and relatively thin disk. Attached to the body 6, in axial alignment therewith, and on the underside thereof, is a disk I of a. much smaller diameter than the body 6. This disk 1, in actual manufacture, will be made of a much heavier material than the body 6 and acts as a balance for the top.

A round spindle 8 extends axially through the body 6 and the disk I and is rigidly secured thereto. The section of the spindle 8 below the disk I is much shorter than the upper section of said spindle and terminates in a conical bearing point 9.

' A long, round, hollow handle I!) is loosely mounted on the Upper section of the spindle 8. This handle l0 comprises upper and lower sections l'! and [2, respectively. The handle section i2 is in the form of a tube, the lower end of which is closed by a plug l3 glued or otherwise secured thereto. In the center of the plug 13 is a hole through which the spindle 8 extends loosely intothe handle 10. Obviously, the plug it affords a bearing for the spindle 8. I l of the handle I0 is in the form of a long cap having ,on its lower end a capping flange l4 telescoped onto the upper end portion of the lower section l-'2 of said handle and secured thereto by glue or otherwise. V

The handle H1 is held on the spindle 8 by a retaining'pin I5 having an oval head It. This head I6 affords a bearing point, whe the top is spinning in the position as shown in Fig. 4, as will presently appear. The retaining pin [5 extends loosely through a hole in the top of the upper or cap section II of the handle land is driven into the upper end portion of the spindle 8 at the axis thereof.

By reference to Fig. 3 it will be noted that the upper end of the spindle 8 is rounded and that the handle it, at its upper end, rests thereon and supports said handle with its lower end out of contact with the body 6 and with the head 16 of the retaining pin I5 out of contact with the upper end of said handle.

A nick H, in the form of a transverse cut is formed in the lower section of the spindle 8 just below the disk 1. The purpose of this nick I1 is to frictionally hold one end portion of a cord :1: while winding the same on the spindle 8 and during the pulling of said cord to unwind the same from the spindle 8 and thereby impart spinning action to the top. The transverse width of the nick I1 is such as to pinch the cord in, as the same is placed thereon, and thereby frictionally hold the same. At the completion of the unwinding of the cord as as the same is pulled from the spindle 8, the end portion thereof held in the tion to a minimum. The length of the handle I0 The upper section 3 is such that it extends substantially completely across a persons hand while holding the top as shown in Fig. 5, and imparting spinning movement to the top by pulling the cord :2 therefrom. This is important as it permits a good grip on the handle l0 so that the same may be firmly held in a constant position without putting undue friction on the spindle 8 while the same is being rotated in said handle by the pulling of the wound cord :0 from the spindle 8.

At the completion of the unwinding of the cord a: from the spindle 8, the top is turned into an upright position and the handle Ill released to drop the top, either end up, onto a support on which it continues to spin for a long time due to the high speed at which the top is rotating at the time the cord as is unwound therefrom. This high speed, at which the top is rotated can only be obtained when there is a minimum amount of friction between the spindle 8 and the handle I 0, as in the novel handle l0 and the mounting thereof On the spindle 8.

The minimum amount of friction between the handle l0 and the spindle 8 permits the spinning top to be picked up by the handle l I], tossed into the air and then caught on the hand where it will continue to spin or it may be dropped onto a support. Or the spinning top may be tossed into the air in such a manner that it will be reversed and then caught on the hand where it will spin on its other end or it may be dropped onto a support.

From what has been said, it will be understood that the top described is capable of modifications as to details of construction and arrangement within the scope of the invention herein disclosed and claimed.

The top described is constructed entirely of wood or other non-metallic material with the exception of the small retaining pin I 5.

What I claim is:

A spinning top having a disk-like body, a spindle extending through the body at the center thereof and rigidly secured thereto at its intermediate portion, said spindle, at its lower end, terminating in a bearing point, a IOng tubular handle having an upper closed end and a lower open end completely enoasing the upper section of the spindle, said spindle extending loosely through the open lower end of the handle, said handle, at its upper end, being supported on the upper end of the spindle with its lower end out of contact with the body, and a stud on the upper end of the spindle and extending loosely through a hole in the outer end of the handle at the center thereof, said stud being of a smaller diameter than that of the spindle and having a head hold ing the handle on the spindle and spaced from the upper end of the spindle to permit relative axial movement of the spindle and the handle without coming in contact with the body of the top, said ends of the handle afiording bearings for the spindle and the stud and holding the handle spaced outwardly of the spindle, spinning movement being imparted to the top by winding a cord on the lower section of the spindle and pulling the same therefrom while holding the top by its handle.

SIDNEY L. LONG. 

